Promoter Sues Rick Ross for Short Show

HOUSTON (CN) – Rap star Rick Ross gave a 15-minute show after a promoter paid him $90,000 to sing for an hour, the promoter claims in court. SM Global Union claims it paid Ross $90,000 for an hour-long show at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. The promoter sued William Leonard Roberts II pka Rick Ross, Juaquin Malphurs pka Waka Flocka and Robert Williams pka Meek Mill, in Harris County Court. Global Union says it made separate agreements with each rapper to perform on March 2 during the week of the annual Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Basketball Tournament in Charlotte. The CIAA consists of mostly historic black colleges, and competes in sports at the NCAA’s Division II level. “Under each of the agreements, the defendants promised to (i) perform live on stage at the concert for 60 minutes, (ii) timely appear at after-parties sponsored or produced by SMGU, and (iii) advertise the concert on ‘all’ of the defendants’ respective websites, fan pages, and social media outlets, including, without limitation, on their Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace accounts; and to further ensure that such promotional information remained publicly available and visible in those media until after the concert,” the complaint states. “The agreements further granted SMGU exclusive rights to the defendants’ personal appearances and live performance services in Charlotte from the dates the agreements were executed through April 1, 2012. “In exchange for these promises, SGMU agreed to pay – and did pay – the sum of $90,000 to Rick Ross, $37,950 to Wacka Flocka, and $26,500 to Meek Mill. “In all, SMGU spent more than $225,000 in connection with producing and promoting the concert.” The Houston-based promoter says the rappers hurt its ticket sales by not advertising the show as promised, and by appearing at numerous other venues before and after the event. “Finally, although Waka Flocka and Meek Mill performed for most of the 60 minutes they agreed to perform, Rick Ross – the headline performer – abruptly walked off the stage after performing for only about 15 minutes,” the complaint states. “Those people who spent their hard-earned money to attend the concert were left with a lasting negative impression of the quality of events promoted by SMGU as a result of the defendants’ conduct.” SMGU seeks $226,000 in actual damages for fraud and breach of contract. It also wants lost profits as determined by the court. It is represented by Henry J. Fasthoff IV, with Adams and Reese in Houston.